LEE PRECISION 90264 Classic Loader.45-70 Government

As a disclaimer: I've never reloaded before, and am not really all that interested in reloading beyond the nostalgia of Americana and the importance of frugality. Honestly, I bought this kit specifically so that I could shoot the 45/70 for less money than it costs to buy factory loaded ammunition. My father lent me his Marlin 1895 for some bear hunting this fall, and I can't very well practice shooting much if the ammo is $40 a box. Also, as much of what I've read about reloading seems to paint the reloader in the most meticulous and anal-retentive sorts of light, I wanted to see if I could load ammo very simply and without all the fuss of the large shop-desk of equipment and many different reloading manuals and tactical gloves and weird fat-guy operator beards and cargo pants. What I didn't anticipate was how much fun I would have and how my love of Americana and the history of this great cartridge would overwhelm me.To get started, I bought a single box of Corelokts at a local store so I could have the brass. I shot through half of those and cleaned the spent cases. I purchased a box of 405 gr cast lead bullets online (for about the same cost as the box of Corelokts), some primers and powder from a local Bimart (to save shipping costs), and a cheap plastic mallet from Harbor Freight. Later (after seating a few bullets to the wrong depth) I purchased a Hornady set of digital calipers and a bullet puller off Amazon. Both of these you will need, and both of them are not included in this Lee Loader kit.Inside the Lee Loader kit is listed some rudimentary load data. I picked what seemed a fairly innocuous load that would be safe in all rifles and would be slightly hotter than the factory Corelokts (which, contrary to my previous belief, were not hard to shoot and were very easy on the shoulder).The instructions are written simply and are easy to follow. First you size the case, then deprime, then reseat a new primer, load your powder using the supplied "powder measuring scooper thingie," seat the bullet, and then, if needed, crimp the bullet. Crimping is important if you run these cartridges in a lever action, where, due to the tubular magazine, the recoil could possibly cause a bullet to seat further and change the pressure amounts inside the case.For my own reloading, I worked a single cartridge from start to finish except I left out the powder and the primer. This was important as it will take you awhile to adjust the bullet seating depth with the Lee Loader. The bullet depth is adjusted by either raising or lowering one side of the supplied die. It is threaded with a locking ring. It took me quite a few tries before I got the bullet seating depth correct so that the finished cartridge met the COL or OAL requirements. (For people without any knowledge of reloading, the COL or OAL is the "Cartridge Overall Length or just the "Overall Length." This is important as seating the bullet deeper in the case reduces the internal volume for the powder charge. When volume decreases, pressure increases. Changing the OAL can cause overpressure conditions in the case which could possibly be harmful or fatal in the wrong gun).This is where you need your calipers and bullet puller. I used the calipers to measure OAL and pulled the bullet out with the bullet puller, then adjusted and reworked and adjusted and reworked until the round would meet OAL specs AND would chamber in my rifle. As I didn't have a primer or powder in the case, this was a much safer way to check these steps of reloading. It took quite a few times to get it right, so be patient and realize that this process is the nature of the beast. It's not a race but a form of craftsmanship that you can be proud of when you are finished loading your own cartridges.After I got the OAL adjusted properly, I reloaded three cartridges from start to finish and went and fired them at the range. They were a blast to shoot (literally) and I felt a great swell of pride upon shooting them.After having had this kit for a time, I can reload a box of ammo during a Netflix show. The kit works fantastic and allows me to shoot these handloaded rounds with pride, and for a fraction of the cost of factory loaded ammo. If you are thinking about reloading and are on the fence about this, don't be. Just get it. Don't believe that you need a bunch of fancy stuff to have fun reloading and have pride shooting your own handiwork. Just take your time and breathe slow and enjoy a nice afternoon on the porch loading some ammo like the cowboys used to do it. This is really old-timer, self-reliable Woodsman stuff here. Pure and true Americana. Through loading your own ammo you will unearth unfathomable new respect for yourself and your rifle and your activities with that rifle--whether it be shooting for fun or hunting. None of these things I foresaw, but all of them I am grateful for.

There are a few really good use cases for this little kit: 1) working up loads at the range. Bring a little digital scale, some powder, primer, and bullets and tweak your loads to you find what works. 2) learning he basics of reloading with out it costing an arm and leg in equipment. Get one and find out if reloading is something you really want to do. Of course, the down side to that is that your first experience reloading is by doing it the hardest way possible. 3) For what ever reason, you like sitting around a camp fire (or cabin, or whatever) and reloading rounds you shot on your hunt that day, then this will get you there. 4) It does produce some accurate ammo if you're care. 5). How often do you get to say, I can reload that round with a "mallet, hammer, or rock" and get to prove it.The cons: 1) This is very labor intensive. You're not gonna load a large volume of ammo with this and be able to keep your day job. 2) It's easy to over crimp and ruin a case...baby steps on crimping is best. 3) If you don't understand the basics of reloading after using this kit, then reloading is probably not for you. Also, if you get frustrated with slow processes, then this kit is probably not for you.

First of all, it's really fun to load ammo this way. You have to hit the components a little harder than you think, but once you figure the right amount of oomph to give each stage, it's like cathartic whack-a-mole. It's a bit noisy, but whatever. Using a proper press is quicker, but it's just so boring compared to getting to beat the crap out of metal stuff with a mallet. I usually do batches per stage, just like a single stage press.I got this to reduce my cost at the range as well as to develop a load specific for my rifle. It offers an easy way to get into reloading without having to put a lot of capital up front, which is what appealed to me. I found that there were a couple more things I needed. I was able to cram a primer pocket cleaner, a case trimmer, and a deburring tool into the red plastic box as well, which was really nice. I would highly recommend getting a scale and a set of calipers to go with this, tool. I also got the Lee Dipper set, but that was because I wanted to easily change my charge.There's a couple of things to know before you get started. I followed the instructions, but found that some steps were a bit off. I do all my pounding on an old 2by4, so I know my bench surface is plenty soft. When I resize the case (step 2 in the manual), I flip the whole contraption over. The brass is on the bench and the mallet pushes the die. It's easier and quicker.Also, the locking nut needs to be VERY tight to keep the seating depth dead on. Even then, sometimes a bit of lead will end up swaged out of the case and in the die, forming a ring. This makes the next cartridge's OAL about 0.02 longer. It took me an embarrassing amount of time adjusting the die back and forth over and over again to realize that if I run the priming rod's checkered grip through the die, the lead ring will dislodge. Problem solved.The dipper takes some time getting used to. Now, I can _usually_ throw within +/-0.3 grains, but I still use a scale just to be sure. It's those little things that matter.For the price and the convenience, it's great. And I get to hit things.

got one in 308, expect the same with this cal... got it for a gift.... with 20 brass you could stay sighted in and loaded for hunting for years... really fun, wish they made it in more calibers.... great for bolt and levers...... kill critters have fun, bounce cans, put holes in cinder block walls whooo hoo

This kit is saving me hundreds of dollars! I used to feel guilty shooting ammo that was $1.75/round, up to $5.00 for premium rounds, but now I can load whatever I want for <40¢ per! It's easy to use and quick once you get into the zone. FIVE STARS!

Simplicity and the quality of this unit is awesome. I needed something I could pack without the need of bringing the whole kitchen sink. Makes accurate ammo..

I am very happy with this item. Thank you

A great deal and an excellent service very happy

I am a rookie at reloading and I found it very easy to use ... I was able to re-load 70 45-70 shells in one evening and now I could do it in 2 hrs.

Parfait pour le prix

as described.Happy